Here's The Best Pizza In MD: Food & Wine Magazine

MARYLAND — If you're looking for pizza, Maryland has plenty of places to satisfy that craving.

But where is the best spot for a slice?

A new list of the "Best Pizza in Every State" from Food & Wine gave shout-outs to two eateries in Maryland, highlighting them for the very different types of pizza they bring to the table:

• Matthews Pizzeria of Baltimore makes what Food & Wine magazine described as "deep dish, lard-in-the-dough, back fin crab pies" in the "retro" neighborhood of Highlandtown. The restaurant offers a host of special pizzas, including the "crab pie," which features 100 percent back fin crab meat, grated mozzarella and reggianito cheeses, caramelized onions and Old Bay seasoning. Matthew's Pizza is at 3131 Eastern Ave, Baltimore, MD 21224.
• Inferno Pizzeria Napoletana in Darnestown "makes one of the finest tomato pies anywhere," according to Food & Wine magazine. The editors called the Montgomery County restaurant's pizza a "deceptively spare beauty with Bianco DiNapoli tomatoes, a hint of Parmesan, garlic and fresh basil." Inferno Pizzeria Napoletana is at 12207 Darnestown Rd, Darnestown, MD 20878.

Inferno also made the list of the 101 best pizzas in America compiled by The Daily Meal in 2020, along with Pizza di Joey in the Cross Street Market in Baltimore.

From a national perspective, these are the best states for pizza, according to Food & Wine:

1. New Jersey
2. Connecticut
3. New York
4. Illinois
5. Michigan
6. California
7. Pennsylvania
8. Massachusetts
9. Ohio
10. Missouri

"Maryland is where the Eastern Seaboard pizza magic ends," according to Food & Wine, which stated: "Maybe it's that there's so much else to eat, but cross in from Pennsylvania or Delaware, and pizza culture is suddenly persona non grata...Not that there aren't exceptions."

While Delaware did not make the list, Food & Wine was kinder to its pizza scene, particularly in Rehoboth Beach, where the editors celebrated Grotto Pizza and Nicola Pizza. Grotto does have locations in Maryland, including Ocean City and Columbia.

To read the full rankings, visit the Food & Wine website.

Do you agree with Food & Wine — is Maryland short on "pizza culture"? Tell us in the comments!